Culinary airplane hacks
Do you have a trip by plane coming up? Whether you’re a big fan of flying or absolutely not: food and drinks at high altitude aren’t always that tasty. Still, you can make things a lot better for yourself. Here’s how to do it best.
Choose your airline
Doing good research is incredibly important. Some airlines serve better food than others. Before booking, always check The Luxury Travel Expert’s top ten: every year, they rank the airlines that serve the best food.
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Order the vegetarian option
A vegetarian airplane meal has two advantages. First, you always get your food first, and your table is also cleared first. In addition, vegetables retain their flavor better when reheated. With some airlines, you can choose from a great many options and see in advance roughly what you’ll get. For example, Favorflav’s Emma once ordered a Hindu meal because it came with braised lamb. Always check, then.
Go for umami
In the air, you taste sweet and salty up to 30% less. The flavor that holds up best? Umami. Order a meal with, for example, beef, mushrooms or tomato. The same applies to drinks. Order tomato juice or a Bloody Mary, for example.
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Don’t be afraid to ask
Have you finished your plate but aren’t satisfied yet? Don’t hesitate: wait until all the passengers have received their meals, then ask for some extra food or a second round. There’s always something that can be arranged.
Bring boozy miniatures
Alongside your mini toothpaste and mini shampoo, put a mini bottle of alcohol in your hand luggage. Then order a glass of soda and some ice on the plane. In no time, you’ll have a tasty mixed drink that’s much cheaper than buying everything on the plane.
Sit at the front or back
When checking in, choose seats at the front or back of the plane. Just like with the vegetarian option, you’ll receive your food first, and the flight attendants will clear your table first as well. In addition, apparently flight attendants are more inclined to give you extras when you’re sitting at the back of the plane. That’s because the rest of the passengers are facing away from you and won’t notice. Sneaky.
Bring your own food
It can’t hurt to bring a few things yourself. For example, bring a mini packet of fleur de sel to season your food. Or go for our beloved Mayo2Go or Sriracha2Go. A roll of cookies or small bags of chips are also always good to have on hand, in case hunger suddenly strikes between airplane meals.
